Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Miraflores Cost of Living Comparison Between Cusco and Miraflores

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $699 in Cusco versus $1,161 in Miraflores.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,042 in Cusco versus $1,257 in Miraflores.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,385 in Cusco versus $1,353 in Miraflores.

Living in Cusco costs roughly 40% less than in Miraflores, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Cusco 49% lower, Miraflores 15% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.51 PEN 8.41

$4.38 PEN 14.67

-42.69%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$20.88 PEN 70.0

$32.55 PEN 109

-35.85%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 PEN 21.58

$5.49 PEN 18.40

17.30%

Cappuccino

$2.23 PEN 7.48

$3.25 PEN 10.90

-31.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.80 PEN 2.69

$1.12 PEN 3.76

-28.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 PEN 1.14

$0.66 PEN 2.23

-48.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.03 PEN 6.79

$2.69 PEN 9.01

-24.54%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.33 PEN 14.53

$4.53 PEN 15.19

-4.42%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.33 PEN 4.47

$1.33 PEN 4.46

White Bread (500g)

$2.37 PEN 7.96

$1.17 PEN 3.92

102.56%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.31 PEN 4.41

$1.34 PEN 4.51

-2.24%

Eggs

$3.61 PEN 12.10

$2.91 PEN 9.76

24.05%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.77 PEN 15.98

$9.09 PEN 30.48

-47.52%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.36 PEN 14.63

$5.93 PEN 19.89

-26.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.32 PEN 24.54

$9.84 PEN 32.99

-25.61%

Apples (1kg)

$2.64 PEN 8.86

$2.07 PEN 6.93

27.54%

Banana (1kg)

$0.80 PEN 2.67

$1.10 PEN 3.70

-27.27%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.47 PEN 4.95

$1.45 PEN 4.85

1.38%

Tomato (1kg)

$0.88 PEN 2.93

$1.22 PEN 4.10

-27.87%

Potato (1kg)

$1.06 PEN 3.55

$0.91 PEN 3.04

16.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.08 PEN 3.62

$0.85 PEN 2.85

27.06%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 PEN 1.82

$0.85 PEN 2.85

-36.47%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.71 PEN 2.38

$0.62 PEN 2.06

14.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$6.08 PEN 20.38

Wine (Bottle)

$6.03 PEN 20.21

$8.71 PEN 29.21

-30.77%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.97 PEN 6.60

$1.73 PEN 5.79

13.87%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.26 PEN 14.29

$2.92 PEN 9.79

45.89%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.31 PEN 1.04

$0.29 PEN 0.97

6.90%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.83 PEN 6.14

$3.93 PEN 13.19

-53.44%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.88 PEN 6.31

$2.04 PEN 6.83

-7.84%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.94 PEN 9.86

$7.55 PEN 25.32

-61.06%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.56 PEN 5.22

$1.37 PEN 4.59

13.87%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$22.3K PEN 74.9K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K PEN 89.9K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$29.75 PEN 99.8

$58.8 PEN 197

-49.37%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$14.73 PEN 49.40

$8.87 PEN 29.74

66.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$44.70 PEN 150

$27.83 PEN 93.3

60.62%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$35.37 PEN 119

$35.76 PEN 120

-1.09%

Cinema Ticket

$4.39 PEN 14.74

$7.31 PEN 24.50

-39.95%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$182 PEN 609

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K PEN 44.2K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$39.00 PEN 131

$54.2 PEN 182

-27.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.68 PEN 113

$36.05 PEN 121

-6.57%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$54.7 PEN 183

$87.1 PEN 292

-37.17%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$75.0 PEN 251

$79.3 PEN 266

-5.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$151 PEN 508

$678 PEN 2,275

-77.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$180 PEN 603

$525 PEN 1,762

-65.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$363 PEN 1,217

$1,613 PEN 5,409

-77.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$267 PEN 895

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,955 PEN 13.3K

$2,534 PEN 8,498

56.07%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,776 PEN 5,953

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$433 PEN 1,451

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

8.94

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Cusco: August 30, 2026

Last update for Miraflores: August 29, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $151 in Cusco and $678 in Miraflores. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $21.00 in Cusco vs $33.00 in Miraflores for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $190 vs $204 per month, with Cusco cheaper across the board.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Cusco vs Miraflores: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Cusco is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 66% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

You'd need roughly $1,049 in Cusco and $1,742 in Miraflores to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.

Rent for a central apartment: $151 in Cusco versus $678 in Miraflores. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Supermarket bills run roughly 8% higher in Miraflores. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

Dining out is cheaper in Cusco – a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $33.00 in Miraflores. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

At $699 in Cusco versus $1,161 in Miraflores, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Cusco but tight or insufficient in Miraflores. The gap between the two cities makes Cusco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, Cusco is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Miraflores, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, Cusco and Miraflores are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Cusco gentler on the wallet – expenses run 66% less than in Miraflores. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.